The Criterion for the Correct Interpretation of Sacred Texts
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He says: What is the criterion for the correct interpretation of sacred texts?
Answer:
Ta'wil (figurative interpretation) is tafsir (exegesis). The term ta'wil is used for tafsir, and it is also used for the reality of a matter and what it will ultimately lead to in the future. This is known only by Allah. As for tafsir, scholars know it. The early exegetes, such as Ibn Kathir and his contemporaries like Ibn Jarir and others, use the term ta'wil to mean tafsir. When they say "the statement regarding the ta'wil of His saying," they mean "the explanation of the saying of Allah the Exalted." The ta'wil that means tafsir is known by scholars. As for the meaning of ta'wil as the reality of a thing and what it will lead to in the future, this is known only by Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
He says: What is the criterion for the correct interpretation of sacred texts?
Answer:
Ta'wil (figurative interpretation) is tafsir (exegesis). The term ta'wil is used for tafsir, and it is also used for the reality of a matter and what it will ultimately lead to in the future. This is known only by Allah. As for tafsir, scholars know it. The early exegetes, such as Ibn Kathir and his contemporaries like Ibn Jarir and others, use the term ta'wil to mean tafsir. When they say "the statement regarding the ta'wil of His saying," they mean "the explanation of the saying of Allah the Exalted." The ta'wil that means tafsir is known by scholars. As for the meaning of ta'wil as the reality of a thing and what it will lead to in the future, this is known only by Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
Source
السلفية حقيقتها وسماتها — alfawzan.live (1:15:14)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.